Biology:Micromyrtus delicata

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Short description: Species of shrub

Micromyrtus delicata
Micromyrtus delicata.jpg
In the Australian National Botanic Gardens
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Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Micromyrtus
Species:
M. delicata
Binomial name
Micromyrtus delicata
A.R.Bean[1]

Micromyrtus delicata is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area of northern coastal Queensland. It is a shrub with overlapping, linear to narrowly egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base and small white flowers arranged singly in leaf axils.

Description

Micromyrtus delicata is a shrub that typically grows up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high, with erect branchlets. Its leaves overlap each other and are linear to narrowly egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 1.7–3.9 mm (0.067–0.154 in) long, 0.4–0.8 mm (0.016–0.031 in) wide and sessile or on a petiole up to 0.3 mm (0.012 in) long. The leaves have prominent oil glands and the edges of the leaves sometimes have finely toothed margins. The flowers are arranged singly in leaf axils on a peduncle 0.5–0.9 mm (0.020–0.035 in) long, each flower 2.5–3.0 mm (0.098–0.118 in) wide. There are 2 bracteoles about 0.6 mm (0.024 in) long at the base of the flower. There are 5 relatively inconspicuous, translucent sepals and 5 keeled petals 0.9–1.2 mm (0.035–0.047 in) long and 0.9–1.0 mm (0.035–0.039 in) wide. There are five stamens, each opposite a petal, the filaments 0.3–0.4 mm (0.012–0.016 in) long. Flowering has been observed between January and March.[2]

Taxonomy

Micromyrtus delicata was first formally described in 1997 by Anthony Bean in the journal Austrobaileya from specimens collected 4 km (2.5 mi) west of Herberton by Paul Irwin Forster in 1994.[3] The specific epithet (delicata) means "charming", referring to the foliage of this species.[2]

Distribution and habitat

This species of micromyrtus is only known from the type location in central eastern Queensland, where it grows in open woodland.[2]

Conservation status

Micromytus delicata is listed as "endngered" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[4]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q15372864 entry